Improvement in car-couplings



.l. GHIFFITH & W. F. MILLER.- Gar-Couplings.

No, 143,281, PatentedSeptem ber30,i73.

NITED STATES JAMES GRIFFITH AND WILLIAM F. MILLER, OB ADAMSBURG, PA. ASSIGNOR S PATENT OFFICE.

T0 THEMSELVES AND O. D. B. EISAMAN, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part cf Letters Patent N0. 143,281, datecl September 30, 1873; application filed Ma.y 5, 1873.

. lowing is a specification:

The figure is a vertical longitudinal section cf our improved car-coupling.

The invention consists in the improvement cf car-couplings, es hereinafter fully describcd am]. pointed out in the claim.

A are the coupling-boxes, which are made cf wrought-iron, and are so formed tl1at they may take the place cf the ordinary couplings, and be secured in the sa1ne way. The mou ths cf the boxes A are made flaring or hoppershaped, so es to guide the end of tl1e couplingbar B into place es the cars ere run together The mouths cf the boxes A mey be made square o1 oblong, and the inclined upper side projects inward, as shown in the figure, to prevent the end of the entering coupling-bar froni passing up into the oft'set or enlergement a in tl1e upper part cf the'boxes, and to cause it to pass back in such a direction es to strike the pivoted block 0 below its piv0ting-poiut, Swing it back and pass beneath its lower edge. The enlargement a is formed. in thc upper part cf the boxes A, to give roon1 for the pivoted block O to swing in. The block 0 is pivoted et its ends to the sides of the boxes A, in such a way that its lower end may swing both backward and forward. The lower end cf the block 0 is made heavier, so that it may always bang downward. D is the key 01 stop-block,

which is inserted in a transverse slotin the upper part cf the box A, in such a position that it may be close in the ream cf the upper part cf the pivoted block O. Upon the rear side cf the key D is a solid shoulder cf the box A, es shown in the figure. T he couplingbar B is made With a joint in its middle part, to adapt it for use in coupling cars of' unequal height. 'lhis joint is made with almost straight shoulders, to guard it from dropping down too far. The ends cf the couplingbar B are rounded oft, and l1a-ve shoulders formed upon their upper sides near tl1eir ends, to receive the lower ends cf the pivoted blocks (J, and thus sustain the draft strain.

With this construction the lower e1ud cf the block (J is free to swing inward, to allow tl1e cars to be coupled by thc entrance cf the couplingbar B. T0 uncouple tl1e cars the key D is drawn out, which allows the block 0 to swing freely in either direction.

Heving thus described our invention, wo claim es new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The draft-bar B, made with a guard o1 stopjoint in its middle part, and shoulders upou the u'pper sides cf its rounded ends, in combillitti0ll With the boxes A, pivoted blocks U, and keys 01 stopblocks D, substantially 2Ls herein shown and described.

JAMES GRIFFIT H. WILLIAM F. MLLER.

Witnesses CHARLES D. ATKINSON, SAML. ROCK. 

